What A Big Abe Victory Next Month Will Bring: The LDP Policy Manifesto (2)

-Strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance; develop relations with China and South Korea; promote friendly cooperative relations with ASEAN countries. Maintain order against threats in the South China Sea and East China Seas by joining with countries sharing “Rule of Law” values.

In the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade and other economic integration negotiations, maximum national interests and ‘defend what needs to be defended and attack what needs to be attacked’ through effectively diplomacy. To participate fully in emerging economies’ growth, aim by 2018 to raise coverage under free trade agreements (FTAs) to 70% from the current 19%.

To strength the Japan-U.S. alliance and to heighten deterrence in the Asia-Pacfic region, revise the “Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Security Cooperation” and promote defense cooperation with allied and friendly countries. Increase Self Defense Force and Coast Guard personnel and equipment. Establish a “National Security Council.” To maintain deterrence and to reduce the burden on localities, especially Okinawa, move forward on restructuring Japan and U.S. forces, including promoting the relocation of the Futenma Airbase to Henoko Bay per the ‘Japan-U.S. Agreement.’

On North Korea, continue the policy of combining ‘dialogue and pressure’ to completely resolve the ‘abduction problem’ and quickly resolve the nuclear weapons problem.

The Constitution

-The LDP has already published a ‘Constitutional Revision Draft’ (note: see my earlier post). Our motto: Bring the Constitution back into the hands of the people.

In the Preamble, while maintaining fidelity to the ‘Three Basic Principles’ of ‘popular sovereignty,’ ‘respect for basic human rights,’ and ‘pacifism,’ elaborate the founding of the nation in Japan’s history and culture, in our resolve to protect the nation and homeland, in respect for harmony within the family and mutual aid within society.

Stipulate the Emperor as head of the nation, as a symbol of the nation and the people’s unity; newly designate the national flag, national anthem.

Stipulate the right of self defense, establish a national armed forces, and stipulate the duty to protect and preserve the nation’s territory.

Stipulate respect for the family and mutual aid between families.

Stipulate again state responsibility for ‘environmental protection,’ ‘protecting Japanese outside Japan,’ and ‘concern for the victims of crime,’ and ‘creating a congenial teaching environment.’

Stipulate the authority of the prime minister and acting prime minister.

Mandate fiscal responsibility.

Clarify the role of local government; stipulate the cooperate relationship between the national and local government.

Insert ‘State of Emergency Provisions’ in response to armed attack and large scale natural disasters.

Relax requirement for beginning constitutional amendment to ‘a majority of both Diet houses;” facilitate judgment on amending the constitution in based on popular sovereignty by the ‘a vote of the people.’

Present the ‘Constitutional Revision Draft’ to the Diet and actively undertake constitutional revision.

Safety and Peace of Mind

-Strengthen countermeasures against terrorist and natural disaster threats to administration, telecommunications, and electric power generation; strengthen countermeasures against internet and computer hacking and data destruction.

During the regular Diet session submit three bills dealing with natural disaster protection and mitigation, South Sea Trough earthquake countermeasures, and special countermeasures against earthquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area; enhance the ‘National State of Emergency System’ for dealing with severe earthquakes and other crises.

Construct a sustainable social security system with due consideration of tax and social security burden of citizens; use all proceeds of the consumption tax to fund social security; based on the ‘Law to Promote Reform of the Social Security System,’ and recommendations of the ‘National Council on Reform of the Social Security System’ make needed changes in the national health care, old age nursing, and pension systems; support all types of popular insurance; ensure resources to support medical personnel and advanced medical equipment, while ensuring appropriate distribution of health care to localities.

Move forward on the ‘Plan to Speed Up Elimination of Children Waiting for Places in Daycare;’ within two years increase places by 200,000; ensure 400,000 new places by the expected peak at yearend 2017.

-Fundamentally reform the manner of selecting textbooks in accordance with the ‘New Basic Education Law” and ‘New Instruction Doctrine’ and the system of textbook examination and supplementary text approval. Nurture public morality and social identity, model behavior, and respect for the nation’s history and culture.

Expand ‘territorial education.’

Promote university entry in the Fall, enabling high school graduates to spend six months in activities; establish a series challenging tests for while students are in high school.

Fundamentally reform the university entrance examination.

By 2020, double the number of Japanese students studying abroad (from 60,000 to 120,000).

During the next ten years, aim to rank 10 Japanese universities within the global top 100.

-Pass Diet House of Councilors reform legislation; eliminate the unequal weight of popular votes. Fundamentally reform the election system, beginning with the 2016 Upper Diet House election.

Fundamentally reform the compensation and selection system for public employees based on the ‘Basic Law on Reform of the National Public Employee System.’

Strengthen the functions of local governments.

There is much to like in the LDP manifesto. As previously reported, I very much support revision of the (U.S.-written) Japanese constitution, though the one-half of Diet votes seems to lower the bar too much.

More analysis and comment on the LDP manifesto and the upcoming (July 21) Upper House election in later posts.